Collection Management

Collection management is an important library function and involves three major aspects:

Budgeting for the collection

Developing policies for the collection

Developing strategies for building, weeding, and maintaining the collection

Building a collection involves a studied approach to the selection, maintenance, development, and evaluation of the library’s materials. Equally important is the library’s stance on intellectual freedom and the policy position it takes when library materials are challenged. The needs, wants, and demands expressed by the community served are the driving forces behind collection management. Collection development includes the planning, selecting, and building of collections in all formats needed by the community. Collection evaluation is the continuous process of analyzing use, age, condition, timeliness, and coverage of library materials.

For more information on Collection Management, choose one or more of the topics listed below.